Dubai Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Dubai tours, Burj Khalifa tickets, desert safaris, Marina yacht cruises, theme parks and Abu Dhabi day trips. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Dubai itinerary.
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Explore Dubai by interest
Whatever brings you to Dubai — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Burj Khalifa & views
At The Top observation decks, the Dubai Frame and Sky Views.
ExploreDesert safaris
Dune bashing, camel rides, sandboarding and BBQ camps under the stars.
ExploreYacht & cruises
Marina yacht charters and traditional dhow dinner cruises.
ExploreTheme parks & attractions
Atlantis Aquaventure, IMG Worlds and the Museum of the Future.
ExploreCity & heritage tours
Old Dubai, the souks, the Creek and the modern skyline.
ExploreDay trips
Abu Dhabi, the Musandam fjords, Fujairah and Hatta.
ExploreAdventure & adrenaline
Helicopter flights, skydiving views, jet skis and dune buggies.
ExploreLuxury experiences
Private yachts, fine dining in the sky and VIP desert camps.
ExploreTop attractions in Dubai
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Burj Khalifa
The world’s tallest building, with observation decks soaring over the city and coast.
Desert dunes
The red dunes outside the city — the home of dune bashing, camels and desert camps.
Dubai Marina
A glittering waterfront of skyscrapers, yachts and the Ain Dubai observation wheel.
Atlantis Aquaventure
A record-breaking waterpark and aquarium on the Palm Jumeirah.
Museum of the Future
The striking calligraphy-clad torus with immersive future-world exhibits.
Dubai Frame
A 150-metre golden frame with a glass-floor sky bridge over old and new Dubai.
Old Dubai & souks
The Al Fahidi district, gold and spice souks and abra rides across the Creek.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Abu Dhabi’s breathtaking white-marble grand mosque, a popular day trip from Dubai.
Dubai in 1 day
- 1Old Dubai souks & Creek
- 2Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall
- 3Evening desert safari
- 4BBQ & shows at a desert camp
Dubai in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old Dubai & Burj Khalifa
- 2Evening desert safari
- 3Day 2: Palm & Marina
- 4Yacht or dhow cruise
Dubai in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & Burj Khalifa
- 2Day 2: desert safari & Palm
- 3Day 3: Abu Dhabi day trip
- 4Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Dubai with kids
- 1Atlantis Aquaventure waterpark
- 2Dubai Aquarium
- 3Desert safari with camels
- 4Dubai Frame sky bridge
Dubai desert day
- 1Morning dune bashing & camels
- 2Quad bike or buggy session
- 3Sunset over the red dunes
- 4BBQ dinner & shows at camp
Dubai for couples
- 1Beach or spa afternoon
- 2Burj Khalifa at sunset
- 3Private yacht on the Marina
- 4Dhow dinner cruise for two
1.5 hrs awayAbu Dhabi
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan palace.
3 hrs awayMusandam (Oman)
Dhow cruising the fjords of Oman's 'Norway of Arabia', with snorkelling and dolphins.
2 hrs awayFujairah
East-coast beaches and snorkelling at Snoopy Island on the Gulf of Oman.
1.5 hrs awayHatta
Mountain pools and kayaking at the Hatta Dam, with hiking and a heritage village.
2 hrs awayAl Ain
The green 'Garden City', with date-palm oases, Jebel Hafeet and historic forts.
45 min awaySharjah
The UAE's cultural capital — heritage districts, the Blue Souk and Islamic museums.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Dubai visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
November–March brings warm, sunny days (24–30°C) ideal for the beach, desert and outdoor sights — the peak season.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
The most pleasant and popular time, with comfortable days and cooler evenings — book tickets and safaris ahead.
Shoulder (Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov)
Warm and still enjoyable for outdoor activities, with slightly thinner crowds and better value than mid-winter.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Very hot (40–45°C) and humid. Focus on indoor malls, aquariums and waterparks, and do desert and outdoor activities at dawn or dusk.
Cheapest time
Summer brings the lowest hotel rates and deals if you can handle the heat and stay mostly indoors.
Events & Ramadan
The Dubai Shopping Festival (winter) draws crowds, while during Ramadan daytime dining is limited — plan accordingly.
One day
Enough for old Dubai and the souks, the Burj Khalifa and an evening desert safari.
Two days
Add the Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis Aquaventure and a Marina yacht or dhow cruise.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, the desert and the Palm plus a day trip to Abu Dhabi.
Four to five days
Add theme parks, more beach time and day trips to Musandam, Hatta or Fujairah.
A week or more
Combine Dubai with Abu Dhabi, the east coast and a desert overnight for the full UAE experience.
Travelling with kids
Allow extra time for waterparks and aquariums, which can each fill a day.
The Metro
Clean, cheap and driverless, the Red and Green lines link the airport, Downtown, the Marina and the Mall of the Emirates — great for avoiding traffic.
Taxis & ride apps
Metered taxis and apps like Careem and Uber are reliable and reasonably priced for door-to-door trips.
Tours with transfers
Desert safaris, Abu Dhabi day trips and many attractions include hotel pickup, so you don’t need to arrange transport.
Abra & water taxis
Traditional abras cross Dubai Creek for a dirham or two, and water buses serve the Marina — a fun, scenic way to travel.
Hop-on hop-off
Tourist buses are a flexible way to see the spread-out sights with commentary and easy stops.
From the airport
DXB is close to Downtown by Metro or taxi (20–30 minutes); many tours and hotels offer transfers.
Burj Khalifa slots
Book timed At The Top tickets ahead — sunset slots sell out first and command higher prices.
Desert safari timing
Evening safaris include the BBQ and shows; in summer choose dawn or dusk to avoid the worst heat.
Dress code
Dubai is relaxed, but dress modestly in malls, souks and mosques — cover shoulders and knees, and women cover hair in mosques.
Currency & cards
The dirham (AED) is used; cards are widely accepted, but carry small cash for souks, abras and tips.
Weekends
The UAE weekend is Saturday–Sunday, with Friday a half-day; attractions are busiest on weekends.
Alcohol & conduct
Alcohol is served in licensed hotels and venues; public conduct laws are strict, so be respectful, especially during Ramadan.
Burj Khalifa sunset
Sunset At The Top slots sell out days ahead and cost more — book early for the best times.
Premium desert safaris
Top-rated and private desert camps fill up on weekends and in peak season.
Museum of the Future
Timed tickets regularly sell out days in advance — book ahead to guarantee entry.
Yacht & dinner cruises
Popular yacht tours and dhow dinner cruises fill on weekends, so reserve ahead.
Abu Dhabi day trips
Small-group Abu Dhabi tours and Musandam cruises have limited spots in high season.
Helicopter flights
Shared helicopter slots are limited and weather-dependent, so book in advance.
Burj Khalifa
Around €40–70 for At The Top (124/125); the higher SKY level and sunset slots cost more.
Desert safaris
About €30–60 for a shared evening safari with BBQ and shows; private safaris cost more.
Cruises
Roughly €25–60 for a dhow dinner cruise; luxury yacht tours start higher depending on the boat.
Theme parks
Atlantis Aquaventure and IMG Worlds run about €60–90 for a day pass.
Day trips
Abu Dhabi day trips run about €45–90; Musandam cruises a little more with the border crossing.
How to save
Visit in summer for low prices, use the Metro, and choose the Dubai Frame for budget-friendly views.
Dubai through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Warm, sunny days still good for the beach and desert before the summer heat.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Do outdoor activities earlier in the day as temperatures climb.
- Best for
- Very hot and quiet, with the lowest prices — best for indoor malls and waterparks.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Keep the desert for dawn or dusk and stay hydrated.
- Best for
- Cooling down and pleasant again for outdoor sights, with good value before the peak.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A great shoulder season — book popular tours a little ahead.
- Best for
- Warm, sunny and comfortable — the peak season for the beach, desert and sightseeing.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book Burj Khalifa slots, safaris and cruises well ahead.